*Siofra Ní Chonaill accepts the league trophy from Clare LGFA Chair Theresa Roseingrave. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
It’s a long time coming but crucially St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield did get over the line for their first senior title when making it third time lucky in a final against Kilmurry Ibrickane in Cooraclare.
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 2-11
Kilmurry Ibrickane 1-09
Venue: Cooraclare
Having been edged out last year in both the league and championship deciders, the Parish didn’t require any motivation and after a slow start, they dominated proceedings to fully merit their long awaited breakthrough.
Conceding the first three points to a Chloe Moloney inspired ‘Bricks side, Doora/Barefield would manage to outscore their arch-rivals by 2-9 to 0-2 over the next 40 minutes, a major sea-change that should have seen them close out the win in style.
However, despite leading by ten points entering the final ten minutes, the finish line couldn’t come soon enough for a nervy Parish side that faltered under an inevitable backlash from the champions who kicked 1-4 without reply to slash the arrears to just a goal by the 59th minute.
With captain Siofra Ni Chonaill also being sinbinned, a 14 player Parish had to dig deep to clinch victory but thanks to their superior bench, teenage substitutes Eabha O’Driscoll and Lyndsay Clarke scored the last two points to seal a memorable win.
Those aforementioned replacements would make a major impact as would departing duo Siofra Ni Chonaill and Aisling Reidy who as ever were central cogs in Doora/Barefield’s performance before they jet off to Australia in a few weeks time to begin their AFLW careers with Carlton.
Ni Chonaill was rock solid alongside Hannah Doyle in defence while Reidy earned the Player of the Game accolade for her typically tireless box-to-box display.
For their part, Kilmurry Ibrickane were surprisingly subdued and didn’t bring the same intensity or bite to Cooraclare as they did for both of last year’s final wins.
A strong finish did paper over the cracks though as while Chloe Moloney, Rebecca Doohan, Amy Sexton, Ciara McCarthy and goalkeeper Katie McMahon provided the most resistance, the ‘Bricks were surprisingly second best for the majority.
They did start well again the conditions with Chloe Moloney (2) and Kayla Darcy grabbing the first three points while up the other end goalkeeper Katie McMahon made a vital point blank save to deny Aisling Hannan.
It looked bleak for the Parish when losing Lucy Power to a yellow card for ten minutes midway through the half but the introduction of Eabha O’Driscoll would be transformational for Paddy Frawley’s side as following a Sophie Torpey opener, the minor would earn and convert the next two frees to level the tie by the 20th minute.
Good work from captain Siofra Ni Chonaill, Hannah Doyle and Roisin Fowley teed up Anna Courtney to unleash a 24th minute goal which sandwiched by points for Aisling Hannan and Aisling Reidy ensured a 1-5 to 0-4 interval cushion.
Buoyed by that momentum, the Parish had glorious chances to put the result beyond doubt on the restart, only to be twice denied by goalkeeper McMahon who kept out efforts from O’Driscoll and Reidy to keep the champions in the game.
A 1-3 blitz capped off by a superb Lyndsay Clarke goal in the 49th minute seemed to have wrapped up victory as St Joseph’s soared 2-9 to 0-4 clear. However, that certainly wasn’t the case as Chloe Moloney and Ciara McCarthy fired warning shots just over the bar before the former teed up Amy Sexton for a lifeline goal in the 55th minute that halved the arrears to just five.
County star Moloney kicked a further brace to leave just a kick of the ball between the sides entering injury-time but despite finishing with a numerical advantage, that would be the extent of Kilmurry Ibrickane’s backlash as Doora/Barefield’s young guns finished the job at the other end.
A foul on Rosin Fowley saw Eabha O’Driscoll score the Parish’s first point in twelve minutes while Coláiste Muire pair O’Driscoll and Lyndsay Clark combined for the latter to arrow over an insurance point for a deserved Division 1 League triumph.
Scorers for St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Eabha O’Driscoll (0-5, 4f); Lyndsay Clarke (1-1); Anna Courtney (1-0); Sophie Torpey (0-2); Aisling Hannan, Aisling Reidy, Roisin Fowley (0-1 each)
Scorers for Kilmurry Ibrickane: Chloe Moloney (0-7, 4f); Amy Sexton (1-0); Kayla Darcy, Ciara McCarthy (0-1 each)
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield
1: Amy Lenihan
2: Sinead O’Connor
3: Siofra Ní Chonaill (Captain)
4: Lucy Power
5: Anna Courtney
6: Hannah Doyle
7: Shauna Moloney
8: Eimear Clune
9: Sophie Leahy
12: Aoibhinn O’Loughlin
11: Aisling Reidy
10: Eimear O’Loughlin
13: Sophie Torpey
14: Roisin Fowley
15: Aisling Hannan
Subs
30: Eabha O’Driscoll for Moloney (12)
29: Lyndsay Clarke for Courtney (32-35, BS)
29: Clarke for Hannan (38)
7: Moloney for Leahy (41)
17: Siún McNamara for Torpey (56)
19: Meadhbh O’Connor for for E. O’Loughlin (61)
Kilmurry Ibrickane
16: Katie McMahon
2: Jessica Doohan
3: Rebecca Doohan
4: Aoife Martin
5: Niamh Miller
6: Joanna Doohan
7: Keela Markham
8: Ciara McCarthy
9: Sophie Daly
12: Kayla Darcy
11: Ellie Hanrahan
10: Caitlyn O’Connor
19: Amy Sexton
14: Chloe Moloney
21: Karen Galvin
Subs
22: Aoibhe King for Jessica Doohan (HT)
27: Ide O’Connor for Galvin (47)
Referee: Barry Keating (Fergus Rovers)
